2015-10-03

After a long and newsworthy offseason, the NBA is finally back in full force as preseason basketball is underway, and the 2015-16 regular season is right around the corner.

Many of the league's 30 teams look very different due to the draft, free agency and trades. Chemistry is a huge part of basketball since it is such a team-oriented sport, and the exhibition slate will allow teams that made several changes to build up some synergy ahead of the regular season.

As teams make their final preparations for the long and arduous 2015-16 campaign, here is a closer look at some of the top exhibition games worth keeping an eye on this weekend.

NBA Preseason Weekend Schedule



*Full preseason schedule available at NBA.com.

Top Games to Watch

Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers



While veterans will get some work in over the course of the preseason, the main focus is on the youngsters, which is why there is so much intrigue surrounding the clash between the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers.

It is quite possible that L.A. will be among the worst teams in the league once again this season, but it should at least be exciting due to the addition of No. 2 overall draft pick D'Angelo Russell.

Many are curious about how he'll mesh with future Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, and while it isn't clear how much Kobe will play if he suits up at all, seeing Russell on the court is a great selling point for Sunday's contest in Hawaii.

The former Ohio State standout has all the tools talent evaluators look for in a transcendent player, and Zach Harper of CBSSports.com is among those who believe he is ready to be a big-time difference-maker immediately:

Although Russell hasn't been a member of the Lakers for long, he has already made a good impression on some of the organization's most significant figures.

The Black Mamba is among them, according to Serena Winters of Lakers Nation:

Head coach Byron Scott, who was an excellent NBA guard in his own right, sees a lot of special qualities in the rookie as well, per Mike Trudell of TWC SportsNet:

As great as Russell can be, it won't be a one-man show Sunday. Fellow rookie Larry Nance Jr. figures to receive plenty of playing time, as does forward Julius Randle, who missed all but one game last season due to injury.

Also, the Jazz will test out rookie forward Trey Lyles in the game, so there will be no shortage of young talent with star potential taking the floor Sunday.

Charlotte Hornets at Miami Heat

The Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat are two teams that figure to vie for playoff spots in the Eastern Conference this year after missing out last season, and both organizations have some shiny new toys to show off as well.

Charlotte selected reigning Naismith National Player of the Year Frank Kaminsky with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft, while Miami nabbed Duke forward Justise Winslow just one spot later. They clashed in the National Championship Game, and now they'll have a chance to do it again this weekend.

The Hornets desperately needed some perimeter help after last season, and they certainly got some by bringing in Kaminsky along with Nicolas Batum, Jeremy Lin and Jeremy Lamb.

Kaminsky is seven feet tall, yet he is able to shoot the ball like a guard. Although he hasn't played in an actual NBA game yet, Hornets head coach Steve Clifford is already impressed with what the big man brings to the table, according to Charlotte Hornets PR on Twitter:

Winslow was a revelation at Duke last season, as he played elite defense while also pitching in more offensively than most expected.

He had the makings of one of the most complete players in the entire draft, but he surprisingly fell all the way to pick No. 10, which an already-improved Heat team was happy to take advantage of.

Winslow has proved to be a winner, and another championship-caliber player in Dwyane Wade has high hopes for him in the NBA, per Jason Lieser of the Palm Beach Post:

While they are very different players, it is likely that Kaminsky and Winslow will be compared to each other for many years to come, especially among Hornets fans since Charlotte had an opportunity to draft either player.

The preseason marks their first of what is sure to be many battles at the NBA level, and it is a game that fans certainly won't want to miss.

New Orleans Pelicans at Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers barely missed the playoffs last season, but after bringing in several new faces during the offseason, there is some reason for optimism entering 2015-16.

Perhaps the biggest reason for Pacers fans to get excited, though, is the fact that Paul George is healthy and ready to play the entire season. The 25-year-old forward returned to play in six games in 2014-15 after suffering a broken leg, but every indication is that he is now fully healthy.

It remains to be seen if George will play against the New Orleans Pelicans this weekend, but if he does, then it will bear watching since he is penciled in to play the majority of his minutes at power forward.

According to Sam Amick of USA Today, the two-time All-Star is somewhat apprehensive about making the move: "Um, you know it's, uh, I was open for—to try it out." George said. "It's definitely a change. It's something new. We'll see how it goes. As the season goes, it might be better for me to just be at my regular position. But I told them I was open to the situation and (we'll) see where it goes."

Going small is all the rage in the NBA, so George's switch is something that could help the Pacers reach the next level, especially thanks to the signing of combo guard Monta Ellis, who figures to make Indiana must faster and more dynamic offensively.

In addition to George and Ellis, rookies Myles Turner and Joseph Young figure to have a major impact on the Pacers' success during the upcoming season.

Both looked great in the summer league, and Turner in particular seems to have superstar potential. Team president Larry Bird is one of the greatest shooters of all time, and he sees something special in Turner's ability to shoot the ball, per Nate Taylor of the Indianapolis Star:

The Pacers could be an extremely fun team to watch in 2015-16, but they must figure out how to fit all the pieces together during the preseason.

Their game against a strong Pels squad will be a learning experience, and that should make for a pretty entertaining affair.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

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